Late Bonac Surge Pays Dividend

It’s funny what a difference a week or so can make in high school sports.

At the beginning of the month, the East Hampton boys soccer team was staring down the barrel of a loaded gun, sporting a dismal 2-6 record and facing a grueling League V schedule down the stretch. And then the Bonackers caught fire. The resurgent locals won four straight games, the last three via shutouts, to thrust themselves into the Class A playoffs and a shot at a Suffolk County title.

The run began October 2 with a 5-2 home victory over Miller Place. The East Hampton came up with three second half goals to secure the win — Sebastian Fuquin tallied two of them and assisted on another. Zane Musnicki added three points.

And then the shutout string began: a 3-0 win at Rocky Point on October 4, another 3-0 home win against Westhampton on October 9, and a 1-0 victory at Wyandanch two days later. Alex Vanegas scored the game winner in that one off a feed from Musnicki. Kurt Matthews sealed the net and was credited with five saves.

“The boys have been working hard as a team in training and that work has paid off with positive results in our recent string of matches,” Coach Don McGovern said. “We have had some consistent, solid play from seniors setting the example for our younger players. Our goalkeeper Kurt Matthews, central defender Cris Criollo, midfielders Musnicki and Fuquen, along with forward Brian Gonzalez have stepped up to meet the expectations placed upon them.”

Bonac closes out the league season on Wednesday, October 17, at home against undefeated Amityville but that one is for bragging rights, although a win would probably give Bonac a boost in the seedings, which will be announced any day now. Outbracket games begin October 20.

North Fork Teams Solid

A lot of high school soccer teams on Long Island are sweating it out this week, but for three teams just down the block from each other, it’s easy-peazy.

Mattituck, Greenpoint, and Southold are all playoff bound. All that’s left to find out is who their opponents will be and when they play again after the regular season concludes this week.

The Mattituck Tuckers, 8-3 in League VII and 9-5 overall, go into the Class B tournament looking for a Suffolk County title, and with good reason: The team has won two straight to close out the season, both whitewashes.

The latest, a 3-0 victory at home against Greenport, was one of the team’s most impressive: crisp offense augmented by a stingy defense that made it difficult for the Clippers to maneuver. Net minders James Jacobs (four saves) and Emmet Ryan (three) shared the shutout. Dane Reda and Jack Burkhardt had one goal and one assist apiece to lead the winners.

Girls Soccer

On the girls side of the ledger, it looks like Westhampton Beach (6-6 in Conference II and 7-6 overall) should make the grade when the playoff seedings are announced. East Hampton, 6-7, has two games left as of this writing: Sayville, which plays in East Hampton at 4:30 on October 15, and at Hampton Bays Wednesday, October 17, at 4:30 PM. The Baywomen are winless this season.

Mattituck/Southold/Greenport, 5-7, needs to win twice. The North Forkers played at Hampton Bays on October 15 and close out the season at home against Pierson on October 17. The Whalers, in a rebuilding year, are 2-9.